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Ms Lock said Pickering is genuinely remorseful, and that the incident has had a ‘very, very significant impact on him’.

Sentencing, Recorder Simon Medland QC said: “This sort of offence is something which rightly strikes people with dread. It’s a dreadful misuse of the facilities of modern communication.”

Pickering, of Oldham, must sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

A spokesman for Keeping Kids Safe said: "We believe he should have got longer, but anything over two years in jail a great result and keeps our 100 per cent conviction rate going.

"Mr Pickering definitely needed a custodial sentence as he was a real danger to children and was extremely aggressive as well as having a drug problem.

"Our team travelled from Mansfield in Nottinghamshire to confront Pickering so hopefully this sends out clear messages that if you chose to groom children online we will seek out, we will expose you and we will get justice.

"We are here to stay and we will protect our children online for as long as needs be."